A new preschool is aiming to bring the
Montessori method to Ahwatukee Foothills’ youngest students.

Inspire Kids Montessori opened in June to
bring hands-on Montessori-style learning to kids ages 3 to 6. Owner
Diana Darmawaskita first became involved in Montessori education
about 10 years ago, a couple of years after her oldest daughter was
born. She had come from a completely different path – civil
engineering – but becoming a mother sparked an interest in early
childhood development.

After completing research on different methods
of teaching, she concluded the Montessori method was what she
wanted to pursue.

One of the biggest appeals to this method was
a student-driven environment. Teachers work with students based on
their strengths and the topics they are interested in and tend to
thrive in.

“In traditional education, students have to
sit and the teachers teach, whether they like it or are ready,”
Darmawaskita said. “In Montessori, the teacher has to observe
first.” Of course, students still have to learn every subject. So
if a student isn’t drawn to a particular subject – math, for
instance – the teachers will incorporate that subject with
something the student is drawn to in order to draw the student’s
attention, Darmawaskita said.

For instance, if a child is interested in
cars, a beginning math lesson could involve counting cars, she
said.

Education also becomes about teaching kids
things like fine motor skills, empathy and refining all of their
senses, Darmawaskita said.

That’s an approach parent Jennifer Schmidt
likes. Schmidt is a Montessori teacher herself, having taught at
different schools for several years before taking four years off to
spend time at home with her kids, Landon, 3, and Kate, 2.

Schmidt and her husband toured several schools
before deciding on Inspire Kids Montessori.

Schmidt said the new, clean environment and
staff’s work and qualifications were two of their biggest factors
for choosing the school for their kids – and for Schmidt herself,
who will be on the staff.

“I love the staff, I love the way the staff
interacts with my kids,” she said. “(Early education) is an
investment you don’t get to do over. If they don’t have an
exceptional first experience, that will follow them their whole
school career.” Darmawaskita said, being able to offer that new
environment with big, open classrooms and teachers who are all
certified in the Montessori method is part of her vision for the
center.

And that vision, in turn, was a big factor for
opening the school. Darmawaskita has worked in other Montessori,
but this is her first time as an owner.

“My children are older now, so I can dedicate
more time to the business,” Darmawaskita said. Plus, the economy is
helping lower start-up costs.

Darmawaskita’s target is younger kids. She has
classes planned for 2- to 3-year-olds and 3- to 6-year-olds. She’ll
have an initial summer program next month, then half-day programs
for the school year.